Full text of the speech made by Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the inaugural session of the Galle Dialogue Maritime Conferenceas follows.

Your Excellencies, Heads of Missions based in Colombo Secretary to the President Secretaries to Other Ministries Chief of Defence Staff Service Commanders Admiral Arun Prakash, former Chief of Staff, Indian Navy Prof. James Clad Invited Speakers Ladies and Gentlemen I am glad to have this opportunity to address you at the Inaugural Session of the Galle Dialogue Maritime Conference, which is being organized by the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka. This Conference takes place at an opportune time, one year after the defeat of the LTTE, one of the world's worst terrorist groups, by the Sri Lanka Defence Forces.